First Writing Assignment

Report topic to instructor: Thursday, September 11
Due: Tuesday, September 23

The beginning of this course has described several ethical viewpoints. This assignment asks you to consider a practical use of technology from one or more of these ethical perspectives. More specifically, you should follow these steps.

1. Explore sources in the library to study the ethical dimensions of a computing example or case study. For example, you might consider how one or more ethical perspectives apply in specific circumstances, such as

   • sending spam,
   • posting assignment answers on the World Wide Web (by an instructor after the assignment has been collected),
   • collecting information on customers of an e-commerce site,
   • gaining access to the Web site of a political candidate and editing the content without authorization,
   • facilitating stalking by gathering telephone numbers and addresses from all telephone directories in a state, country, or region,
   • demonstrating security weaknesses at a Web site by mounting a denial-of-service attack.

   Whatever example or case study you choose, the discussion should focus on a concrete and specific situation rather than an abstract possibility.

2. Write a 2-3 page paper that describes your specific example or case study. Your discussion should include:

   • a description of the specific example or the circumstances of the case study,
   • an identification of the ethical issue(s) raised by the example or case study, and
   • lessons (positive or negative) that may be drawn from your example.

In order to encourage an early start on this paper, you should report your topic to the instructor by 8:00 am on Thursday, September 11. This report should indicate both the example or case study that you will discuss and the source(s) you have found that describes it. (If, despite considerable effort, you have been unable to identify a topic by this deadline, you should report what work you have done, and you should make an appointment to see the instructor on Wednesday, September 10.)

You should write this paper at a level appropriate for others in the class. Thus, you can assume your reader has understood material discussed in class and in readings, but you should not assume any ideas specific to your selected example.

As in all papers, the paper's introduction should indicate how your material is organized, as well as identify the main topic of the paper. Also, following normal practice, you must cite other people's ideas, and you must include a bibliography. Use APA style for all citations and for your list of references.

You must use word processing software to prepare your paper, you must turn in 3 copies of your paper, and your paper must be printed on a laser-quality printer.

http://www.walker.cs.grinnell.edu/courses/tutorial.fa08/writing/paper1.shtml

created 23 August 1997 last revised 10 July 2008
For more information, please contact Henry M. Walker at walker@cs.grinnell.edu.